Electrical terminal



April 18, 1933. c. w. DOREMUS 1,903,308

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL Filed June 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwmg CorneliusWfioremua p i 1933- c. w. DOREMUS ELECTRICAL TERMINAL Filed June 3, 19292 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Corns-gas Wflaremas ATTORNEY Patented Apr.18,v 1933 CORNELIUS W. DOREMUS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OI COLUMBIAELECTRICAL TERMINAL Application filed June 3,

1929. Serial No. 367,956.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, ASAIENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370O. G. 757) My invention relates broadly to electric terminals, and moreparticularlyto a. clamping device for an electric terminal.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a clamp for an electricterminal which may be readily adapted to or removed from a memberconstituting an electric conductor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clamp for an electricconductor having means for positively moving parts of the clamp to aposition to grip the conductor or to a position for readily removing theclamp from the conductor opposing any ten- 5 dency of the clamp toadhere or cling to the conductor.

Stillanother object of my invention is to provide a construction ofcontrol device for a clamp constituting a part of an electric terminalwhich device is readily adaptable to forms of clamps of standardconstruction for imparting movement to the clamp in a manner to.positively grip the terminal or positively remove the clamp from theterminal.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction ofclamping device for electric terminals where parts of the clamp may bemoved to a position for grip- 3o ping the electric terminal and moved inan opposite direction to permit the ready removal of the parts of-theclamp from the terminals.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction ofadjusting devices for the clamps of electric terminals, as set forthmore clearly in the specification hereinafter following and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of clamp and controldevices therefor embodying the principles of my invention ;-Fig. 2 is anend view of the clamp and control device illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig.

3 is a partial cross-section on line 33 of Fig. 1 with parts shown 'inside elevation; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form ofterminal clamp embodying my invention; and Fig. 5 is a perspective viewillustrating the application of my invention to the terminal post of astorage battery.

My invention isparticularly applicable to terminals for storagebatteries where the terminal is exposed to corrosive acid and can onlybe removed under great difliculty. I provide means where the controldevice which brings about the gripping function of the clamp about thestorage battery posts may also be employed to positively separate theclamping means from the post by rota- 00 tion of the control device inthe opposite direction. The advantages of the device of my inventionwill be more fully appreciated when working under the idiflicultieswhich are encountered in corroded terminals of as storage batteries. Byreversing the direction of rotation of the control device in the clampthe clamping arms are positively separated for removing the clamp fromthe storage battery terminal.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 1 designates aclamp having arms 10 and 12 projecting substantially parallel to eachother. Clamp 1 which receives the terminal post 15 of a storage battery7b is integrally connected to a lug or socket 14 into which one end of awire is secured, as shown more clearly in Fig 5. The arm 10 is aperturedas represented at 16 to permit the passage of the cylindrical portion 17of 30 screw threaded member 18 which engages screw threads interiorlyformed in arm 12. The number 18 is provided with a gripping head 2 whichmay be engaged by a tool for applying the clamp to a conductor or remov-3:; ing the same therefrom. The cylindrical portion 17 of screw threadedmember 18 pro jects through apertures 6 in arm 10. The cylindricalportion 17 carries a washer 5 about its inner end and at its outer endis provided with a rim member or collar 3 secured thereon by suitablemeans such as pin 4. The screw 18 has a shoulder 19 against which thewasher 5, which fits about cylindrical portion 17, abuts.

When it is desired to apply the clamp to a conductor or post 15 a toolis fitted around head 2 of member 18 and the screw revolved in adirection to draw the arms 10 and 12. The ring 3 abuts against theoutside face of 1 0 arm 10 in the process of drawing the arms together.

When it is desired to remove the clamp from a terminal post or conductorthe head 2 is revolved in the opposite direction, thereby forcing member5 against the inside face of arm 10 and under continuous movementspreading the arms 10 and 12 to that degree necessary to remove theclamp from the terminal post of the conductor.

In Fig. 4, I'have shown a form of screw member for the clamp wherein oneend of the cylindrical portion 17 is upset or keeled over as illustratedat 21 with the head provided with an annular abutment 20 which engagesthe outside face of the jaw 10 for drawing the jaws 10 and 11 togetherin the form of a clamp about the terminal post. In this form ofconstruction, I find it unnecessary to employ a ring member 5 and I mayemploy the shoulder 19 at the junction of the cylindrical portion 17 andscrew threaded portion 18 for abutting with the inner face ofjaw 10 forforcing the jaws 10 and 11 apart when the terminal is to be removed froma storage battery.

I have found the device of my invention extremely practical in itsconstruction and successful in operation. I have described a particularembodiment of my invention as applied to a storage battery terminal,butit will be understood that the same principles may be applied to aclamp for establishing connection with a ribbon or tubular conductor inthe form of an inductance or bus.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desirethat it be understood that modifications may be made and that nolimitations upon my invention are intended other than are imposed by thescope of the appended claim.

The invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as follows:

An electric terminal clamp comprising means for establishing connectionwith an electric cable, a pair of jaws adapted to embrace opposite sidesof a terminal post and having arms at their ends formed one with athreaded opening and the other with an unthreaded opening, an adjustingscrew threaded through the arm having the threaded opening and having atool engaging head at one end, the other end portion of said screw beingreduced and unthreaded and freely engaged through the unthreaded openingof the other arm, a washer fitting loosely about the inner end of thereduced portion of said screw against a shoulder at the junction of thereduced portion of the screw with CORNELIUS DOREMUS.

